IMAGE-GUIDED TUMOR EMBOLIZATION

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Our team of subspecialty-trained radiologists, qualified Interventional Radiology: imaging technologists and compassionate professional staff come together to provide a continuum of care for what you should know about you and your healthcare provider. Your comfort is our main concern. When you are confident and at ease, we’ll get the best results for you and your healthcare provider. Image-Guided Embolization Our team makes it easy to schedule appointments, helps you prepare for your exam, and ensures you a for Liver Tumors comfortable and quality experience.

We are conveniently located throughout the Twin Cities area to provide easy access for your imaging needs: Blaine • Burnsville • Coon Rapids • Maple Grove Northwest • Southdale • The Breast Center We offer the following services: MRI • CT • PET/CT • Ultrasound Spinal & Joint Injections • Nuclear Medicine & SPECT/CT Vascular Center • X-ray • Bone Density Mammography • Breast Diagnostic Services

For more information, visit our website at www.suburbanimaging.com quality medical imaging

5/15 experienced subspecialty radiologists | state-of-the-art technology Interventional Radiologists What happens after a tumor embolization? At discharge, the Interventional Radiology Nurse will provide specific instructions. There may be some localized pain at the catheter insertion site, and many patients experience mild, flu-like symptoms, referred to as post-embolization syndrome. A follow-up visit will be required, and additional imaging, like CT or MRI, may be Kevin Henseler, MD Adam Jeffers, MD Anne Reddy, MD Daniel Thompson, MD obtained at that time. Interventional radiologists are subspecialists in radiology who diagnose, treat and provide follow-up care for a wide variety of conditions. Treatments are minimally tumor embolization invasive and image guided. Among their many roles, interventional radiologists There are two main types of embolization performed play a critical role in cancer treatment and care. This for liver tumors; both are FDA approved and performed includes performing image-guided biopsy procedures, by an Interventional Radiologist. Most embolizations placing chemotherapy access ports, and treating tumors are considered palliative treatments, meaning that they through both thermal ablation (burning or freezing don’t provide a cure but rather help slow the growth tumors) and embolization procedures. of the tumor and improve symptoms. Occasionally, embolization treatments may also reduce the size of the tumor so that curative treatments like surgery, ablation What is image-guided tumor embolization? or transplant can be considered. Tumor embolization is an image-guided, minimally- invasive procedure that involves injecting materials into Chemoembolization blood vessels with the goal of reducing blood flow to This type of embolization not only reduces blood flow cancer cells. to liver tumors but also delivers chemotherapy directly To accomplish this, a tube (called a catheter) is inserted to the tumors. Due to the targeted treatment area, into a blood vessel in the groin. Contrast is injected higher doses of chemotherapy can be utilized with through the catheter to visualize the blood vessels, and decreased side effects compared to systemic chemo- the catheter is advanced and manipulated under x-ray therapy treatments. guidance until the target is reached. Tiny beads (embolic Depending on the number and type of tumors, material) are then injected into the target blood vessels. chemoembolization may be used as the sole treatment Additional contrast injections are used to ensure that or combined with other treatment options such as the tumors have been adequately treated. surgery or radiation. Chemoembolization can also be This technique is particularly useful in the liver. A normal repeated several times over the course of treatment. liver receives its blood supply from two sources: 75% Radioembolization from the portal vein and 25% from the hepatic artery. In this type of embolization, the Liver tumors, however, typically receive the majority of embolization beads are used their blood supply from the hepatic artery. Embolization to deliver targeted radiation treatments take advantage of this fact. By blocking the therapy. Millions of radioactive arteries feeding a tumor, the tumor’s blood supply is beads, amounting to about half reduced, while the blood supply to the normal liver via a teaspoon, are injected into the the portal vein is relatively spared. hepatic artery and lodge in the Embolization is performed at the hospital, with local tumors. The radiation delivered anesthetic and IV sedation. General anesthesia is not by the beads over the next several needed. The procedure may require a one overnight days travels only a short distance, Pty Sirtex Ltd. SIR-Spheres Image from hospital stay for monitoring and pain management. thereby treating the tumor cells with minimal side effects compared to external beam radiation.

If you have questions about image-guided tumor embolization, please call our nurse at 763.792.1980.